Who is this guy?

Pastor Tom Cash

Saturday

Sep 22, 2018 at 3:00 PM

When anyone encounters Jesus as he is portrayed in the Bible, one question must be answered: “Who is this guy?”

Those he invited to follow him were dumbfounded. “When Simon Peter saw (how many fish were caught), he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken... Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:8-10).

People were startled when he preached. “When he had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority” (Matthew7:28-29).

They were shocked to see him taking time to speak to a Samaritan. “His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with the woman” (John 4:27).

They were overwhelmed when he calmed a storm. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41).

Even his enemies admitted they were bewildered by Jesus. “What should we do? This man is working a lot of miracles. If we don’t stop him now, everyone will put their faith in him” (John 11:47-48).

Certainly Jesus knew what people were saying about him.

Some thought he was John the Baptist, come back from the dead. Others believed him to be Elijah, come back to life. Still others saw him as a new prophet of God (Mark 6:14-16).

And then there were those — even some from his family — who thought he was off his rocker. His siblings wanted to take him home; his enemies wanted to kill him (Mark 3:21; John 10:30-33).

It’s not much different today. Some say he was a fairy tale and deny he ever existed. Others believe he was a prophet of God, but not the Son of God.

Still others call him a good man and a good teacher — much like Mahatma Gandhi. But the Bible does not leave us that option.

C.S. Lewis wrote, “You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.”

For those who claim to follow Jesus, “Who is this guy?’ becomes a pointed and personal question. Jesus challenged his disciples to state their belief out loud, in front of witnesses. Peter answered, “You are the Messiah (the Christ; the Savior), the son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Today more than ever it is of utmost importance for ALL who claim to be Christians to know “who is this guy.” We have the answer for the ache and despair in other’s hearts. People are desperate for a Savior and vainly try to fill that empty void with anything and everything the world offers as a solution.